JellyNet offers second-hand IT gear selling service

A British entrepreneur has launched an online forum to put buyers and sellers of high value IT and networking gear in touch with each other.

By
Bryan Betts
| Oct 26, 2007

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A British entrepreneur has launched an online forum to put buyers and sellers of high value IT and networking gear in touch with each other.

The forum, called JellyNet, is aimed at IT managers, brokers, resellers and maintenance companies, and will advertise second-hand, refurbished and surplus equipment, said founder Mark Abrahams.

He said that many companies buy second-hand, either for replacements and spares, or simply to save money, but will probably have to ring round lots of brokers in order to find what they need. Similarly, a company looking to shift its redundant gear either has to use eBay, or simply pass the problem on to a broker.

"I see a big opportunity for end users, because what are they doing when they upgrade their AS/400, say? Then there's the environmental issue of getting a bit more life out of something," Abrahams added.

The JellyNet.biz website will give sellers wider exposure and make it easier for buyers to look for what they want, he claimed. Searches can be limited to items in specific counties, for those who want to deal with sellers nearby.

However, unlike eBay, it is not an auction site, nor does it have facilities to pay for goods - users must contact the advertiser directly to negotiate the deal. And JellyNet's pricing does look very broker-focused - £45 a month to advertise up to 2000 items, with an introductory offer of £75 for three months and unlimited adverts.

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Abrahams admitted that his initial problem is persuading advertisers to put prices on stuff - he already has a few brokers on board, but most of their items are priced as "Call."

"We are hoping that over time they will put prices on, but it needs someone to take a lead," he said. "You do need pricing on there."

He acknowledged too that while end-user companies are often willing to buy second-hand, they may be wary of selling their own surplus gear. "As with any buyer/seller relationship, a seller has to do due-diligence," he said.

And the name? These days the options for anyone setting up a site are very limited, Abrahams said - hence the .biz extension - plus, as he pointed out, at least it is memorable.